Diabetes & Kidney Health
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Understanding the connection — and acting early — is the most powerful thing you can do to protect your kidneys.
38.4M
Americans living with diabetes
1 in 5
adults with diabetes don't know it
97.6M
American adults have prediabetes
#1
cause of kidney failure
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose — the sugar that fuels your cells. When blood glucose stays elevated over time, it damages blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including the delicate filtering structures inside your kidneys.
There are several types of diabetes, each with different causes and management approaches. What they share is the need for consistent monitoring and proactive care.
Type 1 Diabetes
An autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the cells that produce insulin. People with Type 1 require insulin therapy to survive. It can develop at any age, though it most commonly appears in childhood or young adulthood.
Type 2 Diabetes
The most common form. The body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't use it effectively. Type 2 is strongly linked to lifestyle factors and can often be managed — or even reversed — with the right interventions.
Prediabetes
Blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range. Without action, prediabetes frequently progresses to Type 2. With lifestyle changes, it can often be reversed entirely.
Gestational Diabetes
Develops during pregnancy in women who did not previously have diabetes. It typically resolves after delivery but raises the mother's lifetime risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
How Diabetes Damages the Kidneys
Your kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessels that filter waste from your blood. Persistently high blood sugar damages these vessels, gradually reducing the kidneys' ability to do their job. This condition — diabetic kidney disease — develops silently, often with no symptoms until significant damage has already occurred.
As the filters break down, proteins that should stay in the blood begin leaking into the urine. This is one of the earliest detectable signs of kidney damage — and one of the reasons routine urine testing is so important for people with diabetes.
Approximately 1 in 3 people with diabetes also have chronic kidney disease. Most don't know it. A simple blood and urine test at NephrocareMD can tell you where you stand.
Complications of Uncontrolled Diabetes
When blood sugar stays elevated over months and years, the damage extends well beyond the kidneys. Here's what's at stake:
Heart Disease & Stroke
Diabetes significantly raises the risk of cardiovascular events — the leading cause of death among people with diabetes.
Kidney Disease
Diabetic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. NephrocareMD specializes in protecting kidney function in diabetic patients.
Eye Damage
High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, potentially leading to vision loss or blindness over time.
Nerve Damage
Diabetic neuropathy causes pain, tingling, or numbness — most often in the feet and legs — and can affect digestion and other organ systems.
Foot Problems
Reduced circulation and nerve damage in the feet can lead to slow-healing wounds, infections, and in severe cases, amputation.
Pregnancy Complications
Uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy raises the risk of birth defects, preterm delivery, and complications for both mother and baby.
Managing Diabetes to Protect Your Kidneys
The most effective way to prevent diabetic kidney disease is to keep blood sugar and blood pressure tightly controlled. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Monitor blood glucose regularly
Check as often as your care team recommends. Consistent monitoring is the foundation of diabetes management.
Keep your A1C on target
Your A1C reflects your average blood sugar over three months. Most people with diabetes should aim for below 7% — ask your provider about your personal goal.
Control blood pressure
High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage in people with diabetes. Target below 140/90 mmHg, or lower if your provider recommends it.
Ask about kidney-protective medications
ACE inhibitors and ARBs lower blood pressure and have been shown to slow kidney damage in diabetic patients. Newer drug classes like SGLT2 inhibitors also offer kidney protection.
Watch your feet
Inspect your feet daily for sores, redness, or numbness. Report anything unusual to your provider promptly.
Take all medications as prescribed
Skipping doses — even occasionally — allows blood sugar and blood pressure to spike, causing damage that accumulates over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protect Your Kidneys
If you have diabetes, your kidneys need regular monitoring. Our Dearborn nephrology team specializes in diabetic kidney disease — early detection and treatment make all the difference.
Request an Appointment +1 313 960 6605Related Pages
Know Your Numbers
Blood glucose, A1C, blood pressure, and urine albumin — these four numbers tell your care team how well your kidneys are being protected. Ask for them at every visit.
Diabetes and Kidney Disease Don't Have to Go Hand in Hand
With the right monitoring and treatment plan, most people with diabetes can protect their kidney function for years. Our NephrocareMD team in Dearborn is here to help you build that plan.